Neil Hodgson

I first saw Simon all the way back in 1992 at Thruxton. He was riding a Castrol Honda Superbike in the British Championship. It was damp and I walked over to the pit wall, I was about 18 years old and a new comer to road racing. All I can says what I saw that day has stuck with me for the last 19 years! Simon balls out, wide open, sideways every lap!!! I remember thinking to myself F*%K that guy and ride.

Over the next 15 years I became a friend of Simon’s and as we all know he reached the pinnacle of the sport (to win a 500GP race), something I could only ever dream of.

After a long career, Simon hung his boots up as all great riders have to do at some point. I know Simon still has a great passion for the sport and I think he found his calling in teaching how to ride a motorcycle fast. You will have to go a long way to find a more experienced, driven, hard working, genuine or kind person than Simon.